New Zealand History

• How does colonisation relate to some of the current injustices in Aotearoa New Zealand?
• What were the significant events in your area that have affected how people interact today?
• Did Captain Cook lay the foundation for current systemic injustices towards Māori?
• What effect has land use and settlement had on your local area? What impact has this had on different groups of people?
• How have the experiences of different groups affected their feelings about the Ihumātao issue?
• How are emotions passed down to future generations?
• Why do different groups tell different stories about events?
• What experiences have different people and groups had that may have influenced their perspectives on an issue in your community?
• Why do you think that myths about Moriori, as pre-ceding Māori on mainland New Zealand, have been so prevalent? What purpose do they serve for people who believe them? What consequences does this have for Māori?
• How could stories that have been excluded from the popular narrative be widely told?
• How did the places in your area get their names? Was this fair or unfair? How could you make this fairer?

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Recently, we asked a group of students from Aotearoa to talk about Tuia NZ History. These thoughts and perspectives are their own. Use this video to prompt discussion and explore your own perspectives and values.

How can we influence the world by what we do and buy?

Students’ voices

Well, usually you have signs or you go to big crowds that want to save something or help something.

I think you'd need to get in a group. Or get someone really important that people will listen to. And you know, make a group and you know, speak loud and stand up for what you believe. 

Yeah, I’d agree with get someone who has some sort of importance, like an adult. Or a council member. Yeah. People listen to children sometimes but like, sometimes they just kind of think “Oh they're not talking much sense. Yeah, What do they know they're just young.” It’s like, if you have a couple of adults who know what they're talking about, then that could help quite a lot.

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You have heard what these learners think. How would you answer this question? Pause this video to explore your perspectives. 

What cause would you consider protesting for?

Students’ voices

I would protest about my culture and fighting for it because the Pākeha has been treating us unfairly and been taking a lot of land. 150 years ago they took away the land from the Māori. If it’s just being taken, then they will try to make a lot of money off it which people said is not how New Zealand works.

I would protest for like, stuff that's happening in the environment and stuff that's happening to people that's not fair at all. Like rights that are being ignored.

I think I agree with the environment one. Yeah, I feel quite strongly about the environment.

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You have heard what these learners think. How would you answer this question? Pause this video to explore your perspectives.

How did the places in your area get their names?

Was this fair or unfair?

How could you make this fairer?

Students’ voices

Māori was the first culture to get to New Zealand, so they might have been like, all of them were named Māori and then when the Europeans came they might have changed some. 

I think it would be hard to change the place names but it would be worth a shot.

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How can we protect and use te reo and tikanga?

Students’ voices

We could protect te reo in our school by like, more people joining into like kapa haka and those sorts of things. 

Someone can start a petition for like Māori club and it can be like after lunchtimes or something. And people who want to learn a bit more te reo Māori can just go up and start learning.

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